Protective holder for disc recordings



Sept. 2, 1958 T. WCODWARD PROTECTIVE HOLDER FOR DISC RECORDINGS Filed July 29, 1957 United States Patent() PROTECTIVE HOLDER FOR DISC RECORDINGS Tracey Woodward, New York, N. Y.

Application July 29, 1957, Serial No. 674,859

6 Claims. (Cl. 206-62) This invention relates generally to containers and has particular reference to a protective holder for a flat article.

The invention is primarily intended for the accommodation of flat disc recordings or phonograph records, and it is a general objective to provide a holder that snugly accommodates the article in thoroughly enclosed and protected condition and which affords access to the article in a simple and unusually effective manner.

Another object is to provide such a container of simple and inexpensive parts, preferably composed of sheet material such as cardboard or the like, the device when assembled being of flat character having parallel opposed outer surfaces that lend themselves readily to appropriate embellishment. A plurality of such devices may be stacked or packed in closely arranged relationships without impairing the security of the enclosed articles.

A holder constructed in accordance with this invention is structurally simple, easy to use, and efiicient in its article-enclosing capability. It is attractive in appearance, and unusually effective in accommodating a single article such as a disc recording. The structure is such, however,

that with a slight modification a group of two or more tainer, with the parts adjusted into a relationship in which the interior is accessible;

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a view similar-to Figure 6, illustrating a modification by means of which two articles may be accommodated; and

Figure 8 is a view substantially along the line 8--8 :of Figure 7.

1 The device chosen for illustration in Figures 1-6 is intended for use in protectively enclosing a single circular disc recording. The sheets 10 and 11 (Figures 1 and 2) are composed of adequately stiff material such as cardboard or equivalent stock, each being substantially square so that when they are arranged in superposed parallel relation the resultant enclosure is of substantially square shape as indicated in Figure 5.

The sheet 10 is cut along a curvilinear line 12 defining the boundary of a substantially circular central section 13 and separating it from the surrounding marginal section 14. The line 12 may, if desired, conform accurately to a circle, but it is preferable to make the central section 13 very slightly elliptical, the longer axis extending between the opposed points 15 and 16, lying along a diagonal of the square.

The second sheet 11 (Figure 2) is out along an arcuate line 17 in registry with a substantial segment of the boundary line 12, and terminating at opposed points 18, 19 corresponding to the points 15, 16. A hinge 20 is formed in the sheet 11 between the points 18, 19, to form a hinged segmental section 21 between the hinge 20 and the cut,17. 1

In the completed device, the sheets 10, 11 lie in parallel superposed relation, with the spacers of Figures 3 and 4 interposed between them. The spacer 22 of Figure 4 is of substantially annular or ring shape, the external periphery conforming to that of the sheets 10, 11, and the internal periphery conforming to the curvilinear line 12.

- The spacer 22 lies between the marginal section 14 of the sheet 10 and the corresponding marginal area of the sheet 11. It is preferably secured in place by adhesive means, but any other suitable fastening instrumentality may be used, and in the finished container the marginal sections of the two sheets are secured together with the spacer 22 sandwiched between them.

The spacer 23 of Figure 3 is substantially semi-circular, having its convex periphery conforming to the cut 17 in the sheet 11, and its concave periphery 24 conforming substantially to a circular arc. The radius of curvature of the inner edge 24 will correspond to that of the circular disc recording for which the enclosure is intended.

In the assembled device, the spacer 23 lies between the margin of the segmental section 21 and the overlying margin of the central section 13 of the sheet 10. These areas are secured together in any desired manner, preferably by adhesive means, whereby the hinged section 21 and the overlying part of the section 13 define a pocket,

The thicknesses of the spacers 22 and 23 are equal, so that the sheets 10, 11 may lie entirely flat, one upon the other, when the parts are assembled.

As shown in Figure 6, the central section 13 of the first sheet 10, the spacer 23, and the hinged section 21 of the second sheet 11 always move as a unit. This unit is pivotable along the hinge axis 20 from a position (not shown) in which the package or container is closed and flat, and an oblique disposition as shown in Figures 5 and 6. When the parts are adjusted into-this oblique disposition, any flat article such as a disc recording may be inserted into or withdrawn. from the pocket lying between the hinged section 21 and the overlying part of the section 13. When the container is closed, the section 13 lies in its original plane, coplanar with the marginal section 14 of the sheet 10, and the hinged section 21 similarly resumes its normal disposition in the plane of the sheet 11. The enclosed article is thus completely covered, lying between opposite walls which are completely fiat. The article is thus enclosed and protected in a highly effective manner, yet it is readily accessible by merely exerting a slight pressure upon the hinged pocket.

In the modified construction shown in Figures 7 and 8, an additional partition 25 is provided, extending into the pocket from the spacer that defines the floor of the pocket. More particularly it will be observed that the segmental section 26 of the sheet 27, hinged along the line 28, is separated from the central section 29 of the sheet 30 by a spacing means consisting of two elements 31 shaped like the spacer 23 of Figure 3, and the inter-.

mediate partition 25. The construction is thus essentially like that of Figures 1-6, except that the spacing means between the'parts 26 and 29 is constituted of three plies of material, viz., the pieces 31 and the partition 25. What this amounts to is that the spacer is provided with the partition wall 25 which extends into the pocket between the parts 26, 29.

Figure 8 shows the preferred shape to be imparted to the partition 25. It will be observed that a recess 32 extends radially inward from the outer edge to a point centrally disposed with respect to the circular arc defined by the inner edge of the spacer at the floor of the pocket. This makes it easier to grasp the article, such as a disc recording, accommodated between the partition 25 and the section 29.

By forming more than one partition of the character shown at 25, a correspondingly increased number of articles may be accommodated, each one occupying one of the laminations in the hinged pocket.

In the construction shown in Figures 7, 8, as in all constructions embodying the features of the invention, the spacing means between the marginal areas of the main sheets of the container i. e., the spacing means corresponding to the spacer 22 of Figure 4, has a thickness equal to that of the spacer defining the fioor of the pocketv Thus, since the latter spacer in Figures 7, 8 consists of three plies of material (31, 25,31) the annular spacer' between the sheets 27 and 30 is similarly formed of three plies 33.

It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the accommodation of articles having a circular shape, nor is the container as a whole necessarily square or rectangular. It is commercially convenient and expedient, however, to accommodate circular articles such as phonograph records in a container that is essentially square in shape. In such a case, the preferred arrangement of parts, as shown in the present drawings, is employed. The arrangement of the hinge axis along a diagonal is not essential, but is preferred because of the added strength imparted to the container in the regions aligned with and beyond the end of the hinge.

In general it will be understood that many of the details herein described and illustrated may be modified by those skilled in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A protective holder for circular disc recordings, comprising parallel superposed sheets of stiff material defining an enclosure of substantially square shape, the first of said sheets being out along a curvilinear line defining the boundary of a substantially circular central section and separating itfrom the surrounding marginal section, means securing said marginal section to the corresponding marginal area of the second sheet, an annular spacer between said secured margins, the second sheet being cut along an arcuate line in registry with a substantial segment of said boundary line and terminating at opposed points lying substantially along a diagonal of said square enclosure, said second sheet having a hinge extending between said points to form a hinged segmental section between said hinge and cut, means securing the margin of said hinged section to the overlying margin of said central section to define a pocket, and a spacer between said secured margins and having an inner edge conforming substantially to a circular are.

2. A protective holder as defined in claim I, in which there is at least one partition extending into said pocket from said last-mentioned spacer, said partition being parallel to the opposite walls of said pocket.

3. A protective holder as defined in claim 1, in which there is at least one partition extending into said pocket from said last-mentioned spacer, said partition being parallel to the opposite walls of said pocket and extending appreciably beyond the open end of said pocket, said partition having a recess extending radially inward from its outer edge to a point centrally disposed with respect to said circular are.

4. A protective holder for a flat article, comprising parallel superposed sheets of stiff material, the first of said sheets being cut along a line defining the boundary of a central section and separating it from the surrounding marginal section, means securing said marginal section to the corresponding area of the second sheet, said second sheet being cut in registry with a segment of said boundary line and terminating at opposite points along the latter, said second sheet having a hinge extending between said points to form a hinged section between said hinge and cut, and means marginally securing said hinged section to the overlying part of said central section to define a pocket adapted to accommodate said fiat article, said pocket being closed when it lies in the plane of the holder and becoming accessible when it is pivoted along said hinge to an oblique disposition.

5. A protective holder as defined in claim 4, in which an annular spacer lies between the marginal sections of said sheets, the inner edge of said spacer conforming substantially to said boundary line cut.

6. A protective holder as defined in claim 4, in which an annular spacer lies between the marginal sections of said sheets, and spacing means of the same thickness as said spacer lies between the marginal areas of said pocket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,114,826 Van Ness Oct. 27, 1914 2,691,440 Spugios Oct. 12, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,009 Great Britain of 1907 

